Troy Women Return Home to Host Rival South Alabama

TROY, Alabama – After back-to-back close losses on the road last week, the Troy women's basketball team returns home looking to rebound against rival South Alabama. The Trojans and Jaguars are set to tip off at 5:15 p.m. at Trojan Arena.

The first 500 fans at the game will receive Troy sunglasses. Also, Troy University Alumni Association members can show their membership card at the door and receive $5 general admission tickets.

Links to live video, live stats and free live audio can be found at TroyTrojans.com. Fans in Troy can also hear the game on WTBF 94.7 FM. For live, in-game updates on Twitter, follow @TroyTrojansWBB.

Troy (10-7, 5-3) is 6-1 at home this season and will be looking to avoid a third straight loss, something that hasn't happened to Troy in the same season in over two calendar years.

In both of its games last week, Troy held a lead after three quarters but saw its opponent score 20-plus in the fourth quarter to come from behind to win. On Saturday, Troy lost, 56-53, at UL Lafayette after holding the Ragin' Cajuns to 17 points in the first half.

Ta'Kierra Gibbs was the highlight for the Trojans in Lafayette, scoring a season-high 17 points with seven rebounds as she made her first start since November 29. Gibbs became the 10th different Trojan to score over 15 points in a game this season.

Despite the 53-point effort against UL Lafayette, the Sun Belt's top scoring defense, Troy is still fifth in the NCAA in scoring at 84.3 points per game. That number is even more impressive at Trojan Arena where the Trojans are averaging 97.7 points per game this season.

Ashley Beverly Kelley still leads the Sun Belt in scoring in all games at 19.4 points per game, and in Sun Belt games at 20.4 per game. She also ranks second in the league in steals at 2.8 per game, third in assists at 3.9 per game and first with an 85.5 free throw percentage.

Caitlyn Ramirez, just two games removed from a 27-point, 16-rebound performance at ULM, ranks 10th in the Sun Belt in scoring at 13.1 points per game and 10th in rebounding at 6.5 per game. She is one of just three players in the top 10 in both scoring and rebounding.

South Alabama (7-10, 3-5) comes to Troy after a 63-57 win at ULM on Saturday. After staring Sun Belt play 0-3, the Jaguars have won three of their last five, with two of those coming on the road.

The Jaguars are second in the Sun Belt in scoring defense, allowing just 57.5 points per game. They hold opponents to a Sun Belt low 35.5 shooting overall, aided in large part by 6.4 blocks per game, which ranks seventh in the NCAA.

At 6-foot-2, sophomore Chyna Ellis leads the Sun Belt and ranks 20th in the NCAA with 2.9 blocks per game. Ellis also ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in rebounding at 7.9 boards per game.

The Jaguars' roster features 10 freshmen and sophomores, and sophomore Marquita Daniels leads South Alabama in scoring at 9.5 points per game. South Alabama, which averages just 52.9 points per game, is the only team in the Sun Belt without a player averaging double-figure scoring this season.

Troy is 18-19 all-time against South Alabama and can even the series with a win on Tuesday. The 37 meetings are the second most for Troy against any team, behind only Jacksonville State against whom Troy is 39-22 in 61 all-time meetings.

The Trojans have won five straight against South Alabama, and scored at least 78 points in each of the last four contests. Under Chanda Rigby, Troy is 5-2 against the Jaguars, the most wins by Rigby against any team.

For more information on Troy women's basketball, follow the Trojans on Twitter and Instagram at @TroyTrojansWBB.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find the Trojans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat by searching for Troy Athletics.

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Beverly Kelley

Ta'Kierra Gibbs

Caitlyn Ramirez